During ongoing talks in Switzerland, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf, who heads Tehran's negotiating team, reportedly rebuked US Vice President JD Vance, according to i24NEWS citing the Wall Street Journal. Qalibaf said the US threats violate the memorandum of understanding, adding, 'You must understand that we never negotiate under threats or pressure.'
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf, who also chairs the negotiating team for the nuclear talks with the United States, delivered a sharp rebuke to US Vice President JD Vance during negotiations in Switzerland Wednesday morning, according to i24NEWS citing the Wall Street Journal. Qalibaf reportedly told Vance that American threats constitute a breach of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries, and declared: 'You must understand that we never negotiate under threats or pressure.'
The incident marks the latest direct confrontation between the Iranian hardline leadership and the Trump administration as the talks approach a potential signing. Qalibaf has previously dismissed US threats as unserious (The Zioneer, June 22) and warned that even a final agreement would be untrustworthy (The Zioneer, June 17). Iran has also threatened to breach the MoU if its conditions are not met, including a halt to Israeli operations in Lebanon and rejection of any removal of enriched uranium from the country (The Zioneer, June 18).
Qalibaf's public scolding of the US vice president underscores the internal tension within Iran's regime as diplomatic talks advance under a hardline leadership that has repeatedly signaled deep distrust of any deal with Washington. The exchange was first reported by Israeli and international outlets citing the Wall Street Journal. The incident remains unconfirmed by the US or Iranian delegations directly.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake